Pitti Immagine Filati, a leading international trade fair for yarns and fibres concluded this month with high visitor numbers and an optimistic mood, revealing the latest trends in knitwear yarns for Autumn Winter 2017/18. Our special correspondent, Janet Prescott, visited the show in Florence.

“Pitti Immagine Filati, presenting yarns for Autumn Winter 2017/18, was in confident mood, despite the recent shock of the UK voting to leave the EU and the ensuing uncertainty in currency and potential effects on international trade,” she reports.

Main trends were for soft, fluffy yarns, with a lot of volume and not much weight. The cocooning effect of such knitwear was stressed. Wool, alpaca, cashmere, mohair and other animal hairs played a major part in creating this look. Printed yarns and multi-coloured dyes gave a complex range of choices. There was also a particular emphasis on technical innovation. Find out more details in a special show report by Janet Prescott here – Pitti Filati 79 show report.

Première Vision New York to showcase Fall/Winter 17-18 trends

Next week will see the opening of the Première Vision New York trade fair, which will present collections from 352 exhibitors, a trend area, and the unique Première Vision colour range, along with numerous seminars, fashion exhibitions and special creative collaborations.

For several years now, Première Vision New York has given North American visitors the opportunity to discover the talented young designers revealed at the renowned International Festival of Fashion and Photography at Hyères. This year, the show will feature an inspiring exhibition dedicated to the work of Wataru Tominaga, winner of the 2016 Grand Jury Prize Première Vision. For more, click here – Première Vision New York to showcase Fall/Winter 17-18 trends.

Shima Seiki announced last week it will also exhibit at the Première Vision New York by participating in the new Manufacturing area, dedicated to technical and logistical manufacturing solutions, as sole machine technologist with a machine exhibit.

On display will be the SWG091N2, the largest in the SWG-N2 line of compact WHOLEGARMENT knitting machines. Also exhibited will be the latest version of Shima Seiki’s SDS-ONE APEX3 3D design system, as well as knitwear produced on its latest line of computerized knitting machines. More here – Shima Seiki to present latest technology at Première Vision New York.

Iluna Group presents new collection at Interfilière Lyon

Meanwhile, this week marks the close of another industry leading event, Interfilière Lyon, a trade fair for lingerie and swimwear materials and accessories that welcomed 280 exhibitors, who presented their latest innovations and products for the Autumn-Winter 17-18 season.

Iluna Group, a specialist in knitting, dyeing, as well as finishing warp and flat knit fabrics, is among many exhibiting companies, who presented its Autumn/Winter 2017-18 collection featuring ROICA, the premium stretch yarn range by Asahi Kasei. According to the two companies, the collaboration, based on a continuous research, aims to combine innovation and sustainability.

In its latest most refined premium stretch ranges, Iluna Group used the ROICA Eco-Smart high performance stretch yarn. According to Asahi Kasei, the production of this yarn uses more than 50% pre-production industrial waste material and is designed responsibly and ethically for customers looking to bring contemporary stretch to their own more sustainable product lines. See more here – Iluna Group presents new collection with ROICA by Asahi Kasei at Interfilière Lyon.

Hong Kong Fashion Week discusses sustainable fashion

The topic of sustainable production also became a focus at the 23rd Hong Kong Fashion Week for Spring/Summer, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), which closed this month after welcoming more than 13,000 buyers from 68 countries and regions.

The event focused on sustainable fashion and industry development. A new Fashion Tech zone was launched this year to showcase the industry's latest digital printing technology and award-winning eco-friendly textile technology.

Also, a seminar on Fashion Sustainability – From Product Development to Manufacturing, co-organised by the HKTDC and The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA), offered insights into the latest sustainability measurement tools for the fashion industry and technological innovations. Read more here – Hong Kong Fashion Week for Spring/Summer discusses sustainable fashion.

ACIMIT’s annual meeting promotes sustainable innovation

Sustainable technologies as an added value for the whole of the textile industry also became the focus at ACIMIT’s annual meeting, where the latest data relating to Italian textile machinery was presented.

Speaking at the event, Raffaella Carabelli, President of ACIMIT, explained that sustainable innovation is among the primary goals promoted by ACIMIT – a goal that can be achieved only through a strict collaboration with the recipients of innovative research, the textile producers, according to the association.

To help promote awareness on its projects, ACIMIT, in partnership with the Blumine/sustainability-lab, has backed a study aimed at textile manufacturers already committed to rendering their own products and processes greener. The study highlights the important role played by technology in the sustainability programmes. Find more here – ACIMIT’s annual meeting on Italian textile machinery promotes sustainable innovation.

Texworld USA to present its largest seminar programme

Finally, the July 2016 edition of Texworld USA, a leading event for apparel textile suppliers and buyers, will feature the largest educational programme offering in its history, discussing a wide range of industry hot topics, including sustainability, colour and fabric trends, sourcing and trade, social media and new fibre technology.

In particular, the special Separating Fact from Fiction: The Current Reality of Recycled Polyesters session will explore some of the more technical and detailed attributes of both mechanically and chemically recycled polyester, recent technical advancements, and why they have significant environmental benefits compared to virgin polyester. Read more here – Texworld USA to present largest educational programme offering in show history.

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Jana Bukolovska

Editorial Assistant

Billy Hunter is away